June 14, 2007

My friend Megumi (click the link and there she is, on the left, looking gorgeous) mailed me three of these adorable little pincushions for my birthday. I was so delighted with them that I asked her if I could post instructions for making some here. She agreed. Maybe she makes them differently (and definitely with better craftsmanship!), but here's what I ended up doing.

You'll need:• A bottle cap from a 2-liter pop bottle, or something with a larger diameter if you like, depending on what size cushion you want. It should be about 1/2" to 3/4" deep.• Pretty fabric • Coordinating felt• Coordinating ribbon that's wide enough to hide the sides of your cap• Stuffing, batting or cotton balls (I stole some stuffing out of a pillow on my couch)• Needle and thread• Scissors• Glue (I used craft glue and a hot glue gun.)

1. Cut a felt circle the same diameter as your cap and glue it on (I used gel craft glue).2. Cut your pretty fabric into a circle. For the 2-liter bottle cap size, make a circle that's about 3 1/2" in diameter. Add a little more for a bigger cap. It's not too fussy.3. Stitch in and out around the circle to gather it, making a bowl shape.

4. Put as much stuffing into it as you can possibly fit, and tie off your thread. If some stuffing sticks out, no problem.5. Put some hot glue around the inside edges of your cap and nestle your little stuffed pillow into it, smooshing it down tightly.

6. Glue decorative ribbon around the cap to hide the ugly sides. Done.

Your tiny pin cushions are ADORABLE! I want to use your idea to make a really tiny pin cushion, include a tiny rubber band of some sort to create a pin cushion ring that I can wear on one of my fingers; or maybe a not-so-tiny pin cushion that you can wear around your wrist ... hmmm! now you are giving me great ideas! You are such an inspiration! Love to you and yours.

On behalf of myself, my dog, two vets, and the good people at Petcare pet insurance, I offer unsolicited advice, which I am sure you all already know - as did I, but sometimes it slips right by us:keep pin cushions far away from pets at all times. A few weeks ago, I stopped what I was working on for 20 minutes to make dinner, sat the cushion on the table, and spent the night in the puppy ER. We're all ok now, and I'm 500% more careful now than I was before!

I love these. I have made them using babyfood jars and then you have a place to put extra pins or to take it with you without them falling everywhere. Thank you for the tutorial, I had forgotten how much I loved making these. I love all of your tutorials.

love this! but might suggest you put a heavy washer or nut from the hardware in the bottom before adding the stuffed top. that will keep it weighted and steady on the table. thanks again for the inspirations!

I didn't realize how many pin cushion tutorials were out there! Mine is very similar to yours but I attach an elastic so you can wear it on your finger. Yours is much quicker and with Christmas almost here I think I'm going to make some :) Thanks for the great tutorial!Here's mine:http://kansasa.blogspot.com/2007/11/quick-easy-pin-cushion.html

I just made two of these, too! I made one that is a ring (that elastic-- a great idea!) and one that goes on the wrist. For the wrist one, I just found a wide piece of fabric (at least almost as wide as the bottle cap) as long as fits around your wrist. Then I put a button on one end and button hole on the other, and I hot glued the bottle cap in the center of the piece of fabric. Then just put it around your wrist, and button the button!